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Money Morning is here to help investors profit handsomely on this seismic shift in the global economy. In fact, we believe this is where the only real fortunes will be made in the months and years to come. Money moves markets. But Money Morning lets you move first.enTue, 14 Aug 2018 23:54:45 +0000Tue, 14 Aug 2018 23:54:45 +00005What Amazon's Earnings Mean for the Dow Jones Todayhttps://moneymorning.com/videos/what-amazons-earnings-mean-for-the-dow-jones-today
The Dow Jones today is rising in pre-market hours after the European Central Bank extends its stimulus program, but Amazon earnings loom later today...

Dow Jones futures are up 52 points this morning, but one of the biggest companies on Wall Street will report its much-anticipated earnings after the bell today. Markets fell triple digits Wednesday after weaker-than-expected earnings reports from AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T), Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA), and several other blue-chip giants. Here's exactly what you can expect from the big tech earnings reports today...

The Five Top Stock Market Stories for Thursday

Investors will continue to monitor Republican efforts to get tax reform passed in 2017. After the GOP's recent efforts to pass a budget, its leadership is trying to corral support for the largest tax system overhaul in three decades. But many pitfalls remain, and markets are concerned about the financial impact of the latest proposal. Current estimates would allow the U.S. federal deficit to spike by as much as $1.5 trillion over the next 10 years. Yesterday, BlackRock Inc. (NYSE: BLK) Chair and CEO Larry Fink said that the stock market hasn't even priced gains expected from tax reform.

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Airline stocks will generate a lot of attention today thanks to a round of earnings reports for the sector. Shares of Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) and American Airlines Group Inc. (Nasdaq: AAL) will be on the move after the firms report earnings before the bell. The reports come the same day that new rules will affect all air travel into the United States. The new requirements center on efforts to avoid an all-cabin ban on laptop computers. Companies will now engage in short security interviews and other advanced screening techniques. Roughly 180 airlines from 105 nations will be affected by the new security protocols.

The price of Bitcoin has been declining steadily after it hit a record high and surpassed the $6,000 mark last weekend. Cryptocurrency markets continue to face a wealth of question marks ahead of Bitcoin's upcoming hard fork that will introduce a new offspring to the blockchain called "Bitcoin Gold." Here's more on Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, and what's affecting cryptocurrency values around the globe.

With the leader of the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank set to speak today, investors want to know one key thing about the central bank: Who will President Donald Trump pick to head the U.S. Federal Reserve? Trump has been seeking input in recent weeks from other top Republicans on whether he should replace Janet Yellen. The president is considering recommendations that include Stanford University economist John Taylor, Fed Gov. Jerome Powell, and, of course, granting Yellen another term. Trump is expected to make his pick before traveling to Asia next week. Here's more on Trump's short list for the next Fed chair, including a surprising Generation X candidate.

Crude oil prices are mixed again Thursday as traders weigh another round of data. Yesterday, the Energy Information Administration announced a surprise uptick in domestic crude inventory levels. The announcement offset optimism fueled by word that Saudi Arabia is moving to help reduce global inventory levels across the globe. The WTI crude oil price today dipped 0.2%. Brent crude fell 0.3%. Oil prices really picked up steam in the third quarter, but have hovered in a tight trading range in recent weeks. Heading into 2018, we're very bullish on crude prices. Just how high do we think they will go? You can read our 2018 oil price forecast, right here.

Three Stocks to Watch Today: AMZN, F, GE

Do you trust a stranger to enter your house while you're at work? Amazon.com Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN) announced that it will begin "in-home" deliveries for Prime members. The firm unveiled a special product called "Amazon Key" that will allow delivery personnel to unlock your home for a few minutes and leave packages inside your home. The product is designed to ensure deliveries and prevent theft of packages. The problem is that the required Wi-Fi and camera will cost users at least $250 for the cheapest models. Amazon will report earnings after the bell Thursday. Wall Street anticipates an earnings per share (EPS) loss of $0.01 on top of $41.97 billion in revenue.

Shares of Twitter Inc. (NYSE: TWTR) rallied more than 9.8% after the company offered a surprise earnings report Wednesday that stunned many investors. The company reported a loss of $21.1 million; however, the adjusted EPS was well above expectations. The firm would have reported a gain of $0.10 if one removes certain charges and benefits. Some analysts believe that Twitter is on pace for its first profitable quarter.

The problems for General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) continue to mount. Just days ago, the company offered a horrible earnings report and rumors emerged that it may have to slash its dividend. Now, Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) is sounding the alarm. The financial institution's Wealth Management arm has removed the conglomerate from its dividend equity portfolio over concerns about its ability to maintain its current yield. Morgan Stanley has replaced GE with Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) in the portfolio.

About Money Morning: Money Morning gives you access to a team of ten market experts with more than 250 years of combined investing experience – for free. Our experts – who have appeared on FOXBusiness, CNBC, NPR, and BloombergTV – deliver daily investing tips and stock picks, provide analysis with actions to take, and answer your biggest market questions. Our goal is to help our millions of e-newsletter subscribers and Moneymorning.com visitors become smarter, more confident investors.To get full access to all Money Morning content, click here.

Thu, 26 Oct 2017 13:24:57 +0000https://moneymorning.com/videos/what-amazons-earnings-mean-for-the-dow-jones-todayMany World Markets On Hold Ahead of ECB Meeting Resultshttps://moneymorning.com/2017/10/26/many-world-markets-on-hold-ahead-of-ecb-meeting-results/
(Kitco News) – World stock markets were mixed in quieter trading overnight. U.S. stock indexes are pointed toward narrowly mixed openings when the New York day session begins. Stock markets and other financial markets are on hold as traders and investors are awaiting the key markets event of the week: Thursday's European Central Bank regular monetary policy meeting. Many expect the ECB to announce more details on the winding down of its big bond-buying program.

The Euro currency could see volatile price action in the immediate aftermath of the ECB meeting, including ECB Chief Mario Draghi's press conference.

Gold prices are near steady in pre-U.S.-session trading. The yellow metal bears still have technical momentum on their side.

The most important U.S. economic report of the week is Friday morning's advance third-quarter GDP estimate. The number is expected to come in at up 2.7% versus the second-quarter reading of up 3.1%.

U.S. economic data due for release Thursday includes the weekly jobless claims report, the advance economic indicators report, pending home sales, and the Kansas City Federal Reserve manufacturing survey.

About Money Morning: Money Morning gives you access to a team of ten market experts with more than 250 years of combined investing experience – for free. Our experts – who have appeared on FOXBusiness, CNBC, NPR, and BloombergTV – deliver daily investing tips and stock picks, provide analysis with actions to take, and answer your biggest market questions. Our goal is to help our millions of e-newsletter subscribers and Moneymorning.com visitors become smarter, more confident investors.To get full access to all Money Morning content, click here.

But he was talking to Shah, after all - the same Shah who's set us up for big profits on every major step up in the Dow since last year...

So, of course, what Stuart actually got was a quick series of bold, hard predictions about exactly how each of these companies and the broad markets will perform.

We're sure Shah will nail this call, too, just like the others, so let's take a look at what Shah had to say, and get ready...

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About Money Morning: Money Morning gives you access to a team of ten market experts with more than 250 years of combined investing experience – for free. Our experts – who have appeared on FOXBusiness, CNBC, NPR, and BloombergTV – deliver daily investing tips and stock picks, provide analysis with actions to take, and answer your biggest market questions. Our goal is to help our millions of e-newsletter subscribers and Moneymorning.com visitors become smarter, more confident investors.To get full access to all Money Morning content, click here.

Thu, 26 Oct 2017 10:00:42 +0000https://moneymorning.com/videos/heres-exactly-what-you-can-expect-from-big-tech-earnings-todayWhy You Should Care That China's President Xi Refuses to Step Downhttps://moneymorning.com/2017/10/25/why-you-should-care-that-chinas-president-xi-refuses-to-step-down/
Yesterday (Oct. 24), the last day of Beijing's 18th Communist Party Congress, China's President Xi Jinping signaled to his 1.4 billion constituents that he intends to continue holding absolute power for as long as he possibly can.

Specifically, the Chinese president failed to identify a potential successor to follow his lead once his second term ends in 2022; doing so at the end of each of the country's Communist Party Congresses is a long-followed tradition.

Until yesterday, at least.

In fact, by failing to appoint a successor as expected, Xi technically broke Chinese law. Beijing's constitution clearly forbids any president from serving more than two terms. But, according to Chinese law scholar Thomas Kellogg in Foreign Policy on Sept. 7, Beijing's constitution "carries little weight," and "its core precepts are regularly violated."

Indeed, Xi's move yesterday - legal or otherwise - was widely accepted by his people and his diplomatic counterparts alike as an indication that the president will at least seek a third term in 2022 and may attempt to rule the country indefinitely.

Xi's prolonged stay as head of state will seriously impact the global markets in the coming decades, especially if he is successful in carrying out the extensive plans he outlined over the course of China's most recent Communist Party Congress.

Here's a look at those economic objectives and what they mean for investors worldwide.

President Xi's Long-Term Economic Goals for China

In his marathon three-and-a-half-hour speech at the opening of the Chinese Communist Party Congress on Oct. 17, President Xi hailed a "new era" for Chinese socialism, NBC News reported.

And what would better develop and maintain that "new era," according to the president, than to give added attention to the nation's economic prosperity and growth in the years ahead.

By 2050, Xi declared, China would be a nation with "pioneering global influence."

The BRI is a massive project that was first unveiled in October 2013. Its grand purpose is to establish a broad economic zone connecting China and Europe over land (via the ancient Silk Road routes) and sea.

The groundwork for BRI has been laid (and built upon) over the past four years.

The initiative's continued development is so important to President Xi that he had guidelines for its expansion and maintenance written into China's constitution. At the very least, the added mandate serves a symbolic purpose - to consistently remind the Chinese people, and the rest of the world, that Xi is dedicated to achieving global dominance in just three decades' time.

Fortunately for investors, Xi's ambitious plans in the long term provide a clear opportunity to profit in the near term from. That's according to Money Morning Chief Investment Strategist Keith Fitz-Gerald, a 34-year financial analyst who knows Asia's ever-evolving economic outlook like the back of his hand.

Indeed, Keith believes BRI "will create an entirely new batch of millionaires within the next five years."

To become one of them, Keith suggests readers invest in Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (NYSE: BABA).

That's because BABA already dominates China's e-commerce industry, just like Amazon.com Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN) does in the States. And since China's e-commerce market could amass sales of $2.4 trillion by 2020, according to eMarketer in August 2016, BABA has incredible growth potential to continuously make investors rich.

Plus, Alibaba already has 454 million users in China, and Keith says BRI in particular could expand Alibaba's reach to countries across Asia and Europe, too.

There's profit in Xi's near-term goals for China, as well...

President Xi's Near-Term Economic Goals for China

Xi's near-term economic goals for Beijing center primarily on the concept of innovation.

In that same Oct. 17 marathon congressional preamble, the president called for making China a "country of innovators" and a nation for creating competitors in "aerospace, cyberspace, clean energy, and computer technology," reported ABC News on Oct. 18.

"We will strengthen basic research in applied sciences, launch major national science and technology projects, and prioritize innovation in key technologies," Xi declared in the televised speech.

The Chinese president's promise was actually a reiteration of an older objective he first outlined in 2015...

That's when, under the slogan "Made in China 2025," Beijing's government began encouraging its companies to develop indigenous technology.

Immediately, local governments responded vigorously to Xi's new tech campaign...

Right off the bat, Beijing "spent $36 million to turn what used to be an alleyway full of bookstores into Innoway, an office park that houses hundreds of startups," Quartz reported this morning.

In the years since, far more crucial changes have taken place.

For instance, over the past two years, according to Miao Wei, Chinese minister of industry and information technology, the country has seen "the establishment of the likes of National Power Battery Innovation and 35 provincial-level manufacturing innovation centers, which greatly boosted the country's prowess in core technological breakthroughs," reported China Daily on Oct. 21.

And earlier in 2017, on July 21, China announced plans to become a world leader in artificial intelligence by 2030.

All this rapid technological evolution was made possible by Xi's relaxation of decades-old laws restricting corporate spending for the sake of "fairness." Now, Chinese companies are free to innovate, and they're doing just that. Successful companies are coughing up billions of yuan a year to develop their own technology in computers, telecoms, and other fields in order to create a microcosm of "indigenous innovation."

President Xi has also made it easier for China's big corporations to partake in international trade deals, boosting Beijing's technological business production and knowledge in the near term.

This is where international investment opportunities come into play...

You see, thanks to corporate deals between China and tech innovators all over the world, Beijing's semiconductor (computer chip) sector is growing more profitable by the day.

In an Oct. 19 report issued by SEMI, a trade group association for the microchip industry, spending on Chinese chip-manufacturing factories (called "fabs") alone will reach $12 billion by next year - and will grow from there...

"China is the largest consumer of semiconductors in the world, but it currently relies mainly on semiconductor imports to drive its growth," the trade group says in its new forecast, The China IC Industry Outlook Report.

"Policies and investment funds are now in place to further advance the progress of indigenous suppliers in China throughout the entire semiconductor supply chain. This shift in policy and related initiatives has created widespread interest in the challenges and opportunities in China."

Don't Miss Out:Never miss a single update on the latest economic news from China, complete with analysis on how and when your investments could be affected. Get real-time alerts sent to your inbox, completely free, here.

Money Morning Executive Editor Bill Patalon, a 30-year veteran analyst of business, global economics, and world financial markets, says this kind of spending and support from Xi's government presents a clear and lucrative profit play...

Here's the "Fab" Profit Opportunity in Chinese Tech

"With at least 15 new fab projects announced or in production right now, China will soon set records for annual equipment spending for any single region anywhere in the world," Bill told his Private Briefing subscribers on Oct. 19.

About Money Morning: Money Morning gives you access to a team of ten market experts with more than 250 years of combined investing experience – for free. Our experts – who have appeared on FOXBusiness, CNBC, NPR, and BloombergTV – deliver daily investing tips and stock picks, provide analysis with actions to take, and answer your biggest market questions. Our goal is to help our millions of e-newsletter subscribers and Moneymorning.com visitors become smarter, more confident investors.To get full access to all Money Morning content, click here.

Wed, 25 Oct 2017 20:29:10 +0000https://moneymorning.com/2017/10/25/why-you-should-care-that-chinas-president-xi-refuses-to-step-down/Our Bullish Oil Price Forecast Shows Crude Rising Before 2018https://moneymorning.com/2017/10/25/our-bullish-oil-price-forecast-shows-crude-rising-before-2018/
Since falling to a low of $42.48 in June, oil prices have surged 23.39% to today's price of $52.19. And the gains aren't stopping there according to our oil price forecast...

WTI crude oil prices have been volatile over the last year, but we're finally seeing signs that oil prices are steadily rising to our target price.

In fact, Money Morning Global Energy Strategist Dr. Kent Moors' September oil price target was right on the money. In July, when oil prices were around $45 a barrel, Moors predicted they'd rise to $52 a barrel by the end of September. Crude prices hit $52.22 on Sept. 25.

Now, Moors' next oil price prediction is out for the end of the year, and it's good news for oil investors. Here's why oil prices are rising, including Moors' exact oil price forecast...

Oil Prices Are Heading Even Higher in 2017

There are two key reasons oil prices are heading higher this year.

First, the global demand for oil is rising.

The International Energy Agency's latest oil demand report shows global demand for oil rose by 1.2 million barrels a day between the first quarter of 2016 and the first quarter of 2017. Plus, it's forecasting demand to keep rising.

"Globally, the IEA, EIA, and OPEC have now all revised their expectations for oil demand up (again)," according to Moors.

"We'll end 2017 at the highest daily demand level in history."

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Rising demand is a bullish indicator for oil prices, because more demand means oil can command a higher price. And that's especially true if the oil supply stays flat...

Second, OPEC's oil production cap is keeping a lid on excess supply.

When OPEC and 11 other countries agreed to cut their oil production on Nov. 30, 2016, oil prices immediately rallied. The price of oil jumped 11% the week the deal was announced, rising from $45.66 on Monday, Nov. 28, to $51.70 on Friday, Dec. 2.

But the rising price of oil spurred American shale oil producers to pump more oil, and oil traders bid the price of oil back down. Oil futures hit a low of $42.48 in June.

Now, after renewing the deal in May, OPEC is showing it's committed to curbing excess oil supply over the long term.

In fact, if oil prices don't keep climbing, Saudi Arabia has said they will push for an even deeper cut through OPEC next year.

But that might not be necessary. OPEC has sported a compliance rate with the cuts as high as 95%, and production across OPEC has fallen roughly 1 million barrels year over year.

It's not just OPEC managing the supply of oil, either. American producers are no longer flooding the market with oil whenever the prices rise. American producers are maintaining steady production growth instead. The supply of crude oil in the United States fell by over 2% during the summer. The month of July saw the stock of crude oil in the United States drop below 2 billion barrels for the first time since early 2016.

And while oil prices are already rising this year, we're seeing signs that they're heading even higher...

Our Oil Price Forecast for the End of 2017

Dr. Kent Moors says WTI oil prices could gain another 10% this year, reaching a potential high of $57 a barrel.

Moors expects crude to reach a range between $55 and $57 a barrel by the end of 2017.

While Moors says the realities of OPEC's oil production cut and rising demand will boost oil prices, he says there's another key indicator showing WTI prices are heading higher.

You see, Brent is the benchmark for international oil prices, while WTI is the benchmark for U.S. oil prices. And Brent typically trades at a higher price than WTI, because it's the international measure for oil prices. The higher demand for Brent contracts boosts its price over WTI, but it also means when global oil sentiment changes, it's seen first in Brent prices.

While Brent crude typically trades higher than WTI, Moors says that the growing spread between Brent crude and WTI is a sign that WTI is heading higher soon. In other words, since Brent prices move first, WTI is soon to follow.

Back in August, the spread between Brent and WTI grew to more than 8%, the first time it reached that level in two years. Since then, the spread has grown to more than 10%.

Now Brent crude is currently trading at $58.48 a barrel, while WTI is at $52.55 a barrel - an 11% difference.

Moors says the last time Brent traded a double-digit percentage higher than WTI, the price of WTI spiked.

"All of this seems to indicate that a rise in the spread, occurring early in a new process, may well be a harbinger of a higher overall pricing dynamic moving forward," Moors said.

About Money Morning: Money Morning gives you access to a team of ten market experts with more than 250 years of combined investing experience – for free. Our experts – who have appeared on FOXBusiness, CNBC, NPR, and BloombergTV – deliver daily investing tips and stock picks, provide analysis with actions to take, and answer your biggest market questions. Our goal is to help our millions of e-newsletter subscribers and Moneymorning.com visitors become smarter, more confident investors.To get full access to all Money Morning content, click here.

Wed, 25 Oct 2017 19:49:17 +0000https://moneymorning.com/2017/10/25/our-bullish-oil-price-forecast-shows-crude-rising-before-2018/The Short List of Trump's Picks for Fed Chair Includes a Surprising 47-Year-Old Candidatehttps://moneymorning.com/2017/10/25/the-short-list-of-trumps-picks-for-fed-chair-includes-a-surprising-47-year-old-candidate/
President Trump could make one of his biggest decisions as president soon...

U.S. President Donald Trump is currently deciding who will be the next Federal Reserve chair when Janet Yellen's term ends in February 2018. And to keep Money Morning readers prepared, we've put together a list of Trump's picks for Fed chair, and one of the names might surprise you.

From determining monetary policy during an economic crisis to setting interest rates, the Fed chair's work affects Americans' day-to-day lives. The Fed chair will also oversee how quickly the Fed raises rates in the coming years and its strategy for unwinding its $4.5 trillion balance sheet, issues on the mind of all investors.

And since the Fed chair serves a four-year term and can be re-appointed for multiple consecutive terms, this decision will have a lasting impact.

While Janet Yellen's term will expire in four months, President Trump could reappoint her.

But President Trump wasn't a fan of Yellen on the campaign trail. In a September 2016 CNBC interview, he said that she was keeping interest rates low on purpose to prop up the stock market to please former U.S. President Barack Obama.

That changed, though, as a year later the president said that he liked and respected Yellen, according to a Sept. 14, 2017, CNBC report. President Trump then met with Yellen on Oct. 19 to discuss her possible reappointment.

But even with the president changing his opinion, it isn't a foregone conclusion that Yellen will lead the Fed in February 2018...

List of Trump Picks for Fed Chair Narrowed to Five Candidates

Outside of Yellen, President Trump is considering four other candidates to lead the Fed and could announce his decision this week, according to USA Today.

At the very latest, he's expected to announce his choice before he travels to Asia on Nov. 3.

We've created a list of the five candidates for Fed chair, including their age and experience below.

Candidate

Age

Experience

Janet Yellen

71

Current Fed Chair

John Taylor

70

Stanford University Economist

Jerome Powell

64

Current Fed Governor

Gary Cohn

57

Chief Economic Advisor

Kevin Warsh

47

Former Fed Governor

All of these candidates are on Trump's short list because of their experience, but President Trump may particularly favor Taylor, Cohn, and Warsh, because they have worked with Republican administrations.

But at just 47 years old, Kevin Warsh stands out as a replacement for the 71-year-old Yellen. In fact, if he were appointed, he'd be the first Fed chair from Generation X.

President Trump has been conducting polls with Senate Republicans to learn their views on finalists he's considering, according to an Oct. 24 report from The Washington Post.

Here's what we know about Taylor, Powell, Cohn, and Warsh...

Trump Pick for Fed Chair, No. 4: Jerome Powell

Powell graduated from Georgetown Preparatory School in 1971 and earned a law degree from Georgetown University in 1979.

Powell was nominated by former President Obama for the Fed Board of Governors and took office in 2012.

Trump Pick for Fed Chair, No. 3: John Taylor

Taylor is known for his academic career, which started in 1973 as a professor of economics at Columbia University.

The 70-year-old academic also wrote a 1993 paper where he created the "Taylor rule," which was a recommendation on how nominal rates (interest rates that don't take inflation into account), should be determined.

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He then entered Washington, serving as the Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs during former President George W. Bush's first term, between 2001 and 2004.

Trump Pick for Fed Chair, No. 2: Gary Cohn

Cohn was recruited by Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE: GS) in 1990, and he became the head of its commodities department in 2002.

He was then promoted to president and co-COO in 2006.

Currently, Cohn serves as the director of the National Economic Council and is chief economic advisor to President Trump.

Although the youngest candidate, at 47, Warsh has decades of experience working on Wall Street and in the Fed and could be a dark horse to win the job...

Trump Pick for Fed Chair, No. 1: Kevin Warsh

Warsh started working for Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) in 1995, and he rose to the position of executive director in Morgan Stanley's merger and acquisition department. Warsh then went on to be the special assistant to the president for economy policy between 2002 and 2006.

President Trump's potential choice for Fed chair then became the youngest appointment in the history of the Federal Reserve, at age 35, in 2006.

Yellen appears to be the frontrunner right now because of her recent meeting, but it's still too early to tell who will win the soon-to-be-vacant position.

To receive real-time alerts about who will become the next Fed chair and what it means for your money, make sure to sign up for our free Profit Alerts service. You can join our elite distribution list today, right here.

Up Next: Seventeen Triple-Digit Winners This Year... and Counting

Keith Fitz-Gerald's Money Map Report subscribers who have followed along with his recommendations are now sitting on 17 triple-digit winners this year - including a 201.68% return and 132.35% gain that closed out in the same week.

Each week, Keith shows everyday Americans how to tap into the world's biggest high-profit trends, ahead of the crowd.

About Money Morning: Money Morning gives you access to a team of ten market experts with more than 250 years of combined investing experience – for free. Our experts – who have appeared on FOXBusiness, CNBC, NPR, and BloombergTV – deliver daily investing tips and stock picks, provide analysis with actions to take, and answer your biggest market questions. Our goal is to help our millions of e-newsletter subscribers and Moneymorning.com visitors become smarter, more confident investors.To get full access to all Money Morning content, click here.

Now that we know all of today's price movements, here's what has been moving these cryptocurrencies...

Cryptocurrency Markets Today

On Wednesday, the total market capitalization of the global cryptocurrency sector hit $164.47 billion. That figure represented about a $3 billion decline since Tuesday. Bitcoin's market capitalization comprised 56.0% of the total crypto market capitalization.

The last major announcement from SmartCash developers was that the privacy-centered tech firm had implemented a community governance system on Oct. 11, 2017. Of the top 10 cryptocurrencies by size, only Monero was trading in positive territory Wednesday afternoon.

Ethereum Slides Back Below $300

Ethereum co-founder Joe Lubin generated some controversy earlier this week, which could be part of the reason for the decline in prices. Lubin told an audience at a Quartz and Retro Report event that cryptocurrencies are in a bubble.

"These bubbles bring attention, they bring value into the ecosystem," he reportedly said. "That value is recognized by software developers and business developers, and they create fundamental value and projects that grow the new architecture."

Ripple Can't Find Support at $0.21

The Ripple price retreated again Wednesday thanks to a sell-off in the altcoin space.

We had witnessed a bit of a bump in capital investment to altcoins Tuesday. However, it does not appear that money is shifting from Bitcoin to altcoins, but rather from cryptocurrencies to cash.

Ripple's market capitalization fell below $8 billion just a week after hitting a high-water mark of more than $11 billion.

Jordan Belfort knows a scam when he sees one. The "Wolf of Wall Street" is speaking out against initial coin offerings (ICOs) in a new interview with Financial Times.

Belfort, who was once convicted on counts related to stock manipulation, said that scammers are targeting the industry and investors need to watch out.

"Promoters are perpetuating a massive scam of the highest order on everyone," he said in the interview. "Probably 85 percent of people out there don't have bad intentions, but the problem is, if five or 10 percent are trying to scam you, it's a disaster."

Get on the Path to Greater Wealth:When it comes to making money in the market, "getting in" early - before a stock begins to make its decisive move - is the single biggest factor to your success as an investor. Quickly buying Apple after the June 2013 sell-off, for instance, could have doubled your money. Moving on Valeant the same day we recommended our big "negative bet" against it would've booked you a remarkably fast 700% return. That's why we've introduced Money Morning Profit Alerts. This new, free service lets you choose what investing areas you want to follow - and makes sure you get alerted to news from that sector as soon as we publish it. It means no more waiting. No more searching. No more missing out. It's easy to get started - just go here.

About Money Morning: Money Morning gives you access to a team of ten market experts with more than 250 years of combined investing experience – for free. Our experts – who have appeared on FOXBusiness, CNBC, NPR, and BloombergTV – deliver daily investing tips and stock picks, provide analysis with actions to take, and answer your biggest market questions. Our goal is to help our millions of e-newsletter subscribers and Moneymorning.com visitors become smarter, more confident investors.To get full access to all Money Morning content, click here.

Wed, 25 Oct 2017 18:33:09 +0000https://moneymorning.com/2017/10/25/cryptocurrency-prices-bitcoin-drops-2-as-developers-debate-about-hard-forks/This Small-Cap Stock to Buy Is Up 85.7% – and That's Just the Starthttps://moneymorning.com/2017/10/25/this-small-cap-stock-to-buy-is-up-85-7-and-thats-just-the-start/
Small-cap companies have been beaten by the broader market so far this year. The Russell 2000 small-cap index is up only 7.6% in 2017, while the Dow Jones has gained 17.9%.

But today's pick for the best small-cap stock to buy is up a whopping 85.7% since Money Morning Small-Cap Specialist Sid Riggs first recommended it to readers in February.

And now we're re-recommending it as one of the best stocks to own for 2018, as those gains are set to continue.

Sid - whose picks have handed readers returns as big as 533.3% - thinks shares of this firm will keep rallying thanks to its role in a medical trend set to grow 9.5% annually through 2021.

Here's why today's small-cap stock pick has more room to run even higher next year...

This Medical Trend Will Boost Our Small-Cap Stock to Buy in 2018

HIV infections are rising in Europe, and that's creating a $3.4 billion market in the testing industry.

"HIV transmission is still a major concern in Europe," the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said in its 2015 HIV/AIDS surveillance report. "More than three decades into the HIV epidemic in Europe, HIV infection continues to affect the health and well-being of hundreds of thousands of people."

While the number of new HIV infections in the United States fell 10% from 2010 to 2014, the number continues to grow in Europe. The latest data from 2015 shows there were 153,407 new HIV patients across 50 countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region. That's up 7.9% from 142,197 people in 2014, according to the ECDC.

Medical Breakthrough: A tiny $6 million company just won a stunning patent verdict, setting up an explosive 28,700% sales surge in the next 18 months. This stock could soar - click here for details...

As the number of HIV patients rises, more HIV tests will be conducted to catch the virus early. A report from Market Data Forecast predicts the global market for HIV diagnostic testing will rise from $2.17 billion in 2016 to $3.4 billion by 2021. This would mark an annual growth rate of 9.5% over that five-year period.

And Sid's small-cap recommendation is the best-positioned company to meet that demand. While this company makes a range of testing devices, it's the first to offer an at-home HIV testing kit, giving the firm an edge on other biotechs racing to develop their own.

In fact, WHO just prequalified this HIV self-test last July. That means the organization certified that the test meets global standards of safety and quality, and that gives the test global legitimacy.

Finally, this company has consistently smashed Wall Street's earnings expectations. In its last four earnings reports, the firm's earnings per share (EPS) has beaten analyst estimates by an average of 54.78%.

And Sid says you need to buy this stock now before the company likely beats expectations yet again in its Q3 earnings report...

The Best Small-Cap Stock to Buy Today

The pick is OraSure Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: OSUR), which develops medical devices that detect conditions like HCV, HIV, and influenza. The company also sells drug-screening products that can detect narcotics or alcohol in a person's system.

Some of OraSure's most popular products include its line of portable cryosurgical devices. These let people apply intense cold to lesions, warts, and other spots on the skin to remove the unwanted or infected tissue.

The company has seen a number of its products quickly receive FDA approval in recent years. In 2010 and 2011, the FDA approved OraSure's blood and fingerstick HCV tests, respectively. And in 2012, the company received FDA approval for OraQuick, an at-home HIV test.

According to the OraSure website, it's the first oral fluid, over-the-counter HIV test approved in the United States. That ability to stay ahead of competitors will continue to be a long-term boost to OraSure stock.

Sid first recommended OraSure on Feb. 24, when it traded at $11.12 per share. Since that date, shares are up 85.7%, to $20.65 today (Wednesday, Oct. 25).

Since Q3 2016, OraSure has smashed earnings estimates by an average of 54.78%. During the last quarter of 2016, the firm posted $0.13 EPS, exceeding the $0.06 analyst estimate by 116.7%. It's kept that streak going ever since, beating its most recent Q3 2017 estimate by 28.6%.

"Analysts have almost perennially underestimated the company's potential - something they won't do for long," Sid said. "Which is why you don't want to delay for a New York minute if you're as interested as I am."

Up Next: The End of Blindness?

A tiny $6 million company has just won in a historic patent verdict and is poised to forever transform medicine.

In fact, the microscopic device at the center of it all is capable of molecular magic that defies modern science.

Already, this breakthrough has reversed the mutations that cause blindness, and it's being honed in the fight against Alzheimer's, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

This technology is so revolutionary, Bill Gates - as well as the billionaires at Google - are investing billions.

About Money Morning: Money Morning gives you access to a team of ten market experts with more than 250 years of combined investing experience – for free. Our experts – who have appeared on FOXBusiness, CNBC, NPR, and BloombergTV – deliver daily investing tips and stock picks, provide analysis with actions to take, and answer your biggest market questions. Our goal is to help our millions of e-newsletter subscribers and Moneymorning.com visitors become smarter, more confident investors.To get full access to all Money Morning content, click here.

Wed, 25 Oct 2017 16:59:14 +0000https://moneymorning.com/2017/10/25/this-small-cap-stock-to-buy-is-up-85-7-and-thats-just-the-start/Maryland Marijuana Dispensary Hurdles Won't Slow the $6.7 Billion Nationwide Industryhttps://moneymorning.com/2017/10/25/maryland-marijuana-dispensary-hurdles-wont-slow-the-6-7-billion-nationwide-industry/
Maryland marijuana dispensaries are facing opposition from communities who don't want marijuana sales happening in their neighborhoods. But these community opponents are a mere hurdle, and they can't stop the $6.7 billion legal North American industry...

Right now, 29 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized medical cannabis, with up to five more voting on it next fall. No matter how hard some fight it, it's just too late to stop legalization.

But that isn't stopping some from a Maryland community from trying, as Maryland is set to allow medical marijuana sales to begin in 2018...

On Oct. 24, 2017, residents of Pikesville, Md., gathered in a hearing room to tell a zoning appeals board that allowing a dispensary to operate in their community would make traffic worse and attract "unsavory people," according to The Baltimore Sun.

But with legal cannabis sales in North America set to climb 198% to $20 billion by 2020, opponents of legal marijuana are just too late to stop legalization.

And with sales skyrocketing, long-term marijuana stock shareholders have the chance to turn a $100 stake into a fortune.

We'll give you all the details you need to plot your seven-figure weed windfall in just a bit.

But first, we wanted Money Morning readers to know the latest details on Maryland marijuana legalization as the state plans to allow medical cannabis sales in 2018...

Maryland Marijuana Opposition Is Only Temporary

Temescal Wellness, a marijuana dispensary with two locations in New Hampshire, wants to expand to a vacant strip mall in Pikesville, Md.

The property Temescal wants to occupy is part of a commercial revitalization initiative from the county. A county judge granted Temescal the special zoning permit it needed to operate there, reasoning the dispensary would not be harmful to the community, according to The Baltimore Sun.

However, opponents of the dispensary appealed the judge's decision to the Baltimore County Board of Appeals.

Opponents had broad concerns about what a marijuana dispensary would do to the community, and some are worried it will have a negative effect on an office suite and apartment complex nearby.

A representative of Temescal testified that the dispensary will be safe for the community, and there will be a security guard on site, according to The Baltimore Sun. The representative also said there will be very little cash on hand and that his company works with a bank.

The Board of Appeals will hold deliberations next week.

Of course, what's lost in the debate on opening the dispensary in this community is Maryland legalized medical cannabis in 2014. If the dispensary doesn't open in this particular area, it can find other commercial space.

And thanks to states like Maryland legalizing medical cannabis, some marijuana stocks are seeing triple-digit gains of 224%... 378%... and even an exceptional 751%.

Special Report: Cannabis Is the Gold Rush of the 21st Century - 30 Stocks to Invest in Now. Details Here...

We've made it easy for you to learn how to get started yourself with a unique "pot investment" plan.

After months of research, we've found the most lucrative and fastest-growing legal pot stocks in America. And for a limited time, you can get all the details...

It's Your Turn to Profit from a Marijuana Windfall

Money Morning Director of Technology & Venture Capital Research Michael Robinson is our renowned pot stock expert and one of our most prominent and respected investing "gurus" here at Money Map Press. And for good reason.

He's been a board member for a Silicon Valley venture capital firm and a senior advisor to 12 high-tech startups.

He's also a Pulitzer Prize-nominated writer and reporter, lauded by the Columbia Journalism Review for his aggressive style.

His research is world class, too. The Oakland Tribune, Detroit News, The San Francisco Examiner, The Kansas City Times, Wealth Magazine, and American Banker have all published his reporting. He's even appeared on Larry King's syndicated radio show and is a regular guest on CNBC's "The Rundown" and FOX Business Network's "Cavuto: Coast to Coast."

And he's focused on a new, earth-shattering government announcement could completely change the legalization of marijuana - forever. In fact, thanks to this historic legislation, tiny pot stocks trading for under $5 are getting set to double, triple, or quadruple.

In an exclusive interview with Money Morning, Michael shares all the good news - including details on five tiny weed stocks that could potentially turn a small stake into $100,000. Click here to continue.

Up Next: You Could Crush the Market with These Trade Recommendations

Since April 28, Shah's Zenith Trading Circle recommendations have outperformed every investment on the market, with an average gain of 44% per day (including partial plays).

In fact, one of his last trade recommendations closed out for a 995% win. And he's got seven more trade recommendations lined up right now.

So if you're not making gains like this... you could be cheating yourself out of tens of thousands of dollars.

About Money Morning: Money Morning gives you access to a team of ten market experts with more than 250 years of combined investing experience – for free. Our experts – who have appeared on FOXBusiness, CNBC, NPR, and BloombergTV – deliver daily investing tips and stock picks, provide analysis with actions to take, and answer your biggest market questions. Our goal is to help our millions of e-newsletter subscribers and Moneymorning.com visitors become smarter, more confident investors.To get full access to all Money Morning content, click here.

Wed, 25 Oct 2017 16:07:20 +0000https://moneymorning.com/2017/10/25/maryland-marijuana-dispensary-hurdles-wont-slow-the-6-7-billion-nationwide-industry/The U.S. Military Has Been Quietly Prepping for a "Space War" with Asiahttps://moneymorning.com/2017/10/25/the-u-s-military-has-been-quietly-prepping-for-a-space-war-with-asia/
An elite squad of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) has been quietly preparing for a possible war with Asia.

This war wouldn't be fought on land, sea, or even in the air.

It would take place in space.

You see, many of America's most vital - and vulnerable - military targets aren't cities or bases; they're GPS satellites. And their protection has become a priority for the USAF.

"Our job is to provide that global unblinking eye to be able to detect and warn against those threats and be able to provide that to the decision makers," four-star U.S. Gen. Jay Raymond, the military's top space commander, told CBS News Tuesday morning (Oct. 24).

According to CBS News, the eight-person USAF squad operates out of a remote base in rural Colorado. All day, every day, they watch worldwide missile launch "hot spots" in order to alert the U.S. government and its allies about tests being carried out or planned.

Despite the apparent vulnerability of our satellites, the Air Force seems quite assured of its own capabilities to launch an effective defense...

When asked how confident he was that the U.S. military's "global unblinking eye" will never shut, Gen. Raymond told CBS News this morning, "it doesn't blink. It's always open."

See which American adversaries this "unblinking eye" is watching now - and how you can profit from these rising global tensions...

Russia and China

There are actually 10 nations worldwide that have the capability of launching a missile into outer space toward a target (such as a satellite). And yesterday, CBS News reported that our biggest adversaries in that arena are Russia and China.

We've already seen what both countries can do...

In 2007, for example, Beijing launched an anti-satellite missile that destroyed a Chinese "dummy" target in space and created more than 3,000 dangerous fragments' worth of space detritus in the process.

To date, the Red Dragon has now conducted a total of eight such tests - each one meant to display its ever-evolving marksmanship and technological aerospace advancements to the world (though Beijing would never actually admit that).

In 2015, Moscow carried out three missile tests of its own, each one designed to destroy satellites orbiting Earth's atmosphere, much like the projectiles launched by China eight years prior.

Moscow may not have the same bragging rights as Beijing with regard to its various launches, but each one of Moscow's missile tests has sent its own implicit message...

Look, we can shoot down targets in space, too.

(By the way, the United States was the first nation to ever shoot down a satellite target in space... in 1989.)

What's most frightening about China and Russia's advancements over time, however, is America's increased dependence on the very targets they're preparing to strike - satellites.

We rely on them a lot.

Which makes us particularly vulnerable to our adversaries.

Just look at these stats...

How a Satellite Attack Would Affect the United States

Our everyday lives in the United States depend heavily on the U.S. military's GPS satellites currently circumnavigating Earth. There are between 24 and 30 such satellites in orbit right now, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Initially, these GPS satellites were built for use in Desert Storm some 25 years ago to ensure U.S. armed forces' communication.

But since their creation and subsequent implementation, they've slowly become integrated into virtually every aspect of our daily routines.

When we deposit money at the bank, the GPS satellites are transferring data in a matter of milliseconds between financial institutions.

When we turn on the faucet, the satellites are there, tracking our utility providers' administrative meta-data.

These GPS targets are even crucial to modern-day agriculture - farmers use their spatial GPS data to decide on crop rotation and pesticide application.

Even the stock market depends on these satellites...

Every aspect of the varied indexes rely on the satellites' GPS systems to "time-stamp" stock trades, Peter Singer, a senior fellow at non-partisan think tank New America, explained to Business Insider on July 18.

So, imagine if China or Russia - now well capable of knocking one of those 24 to 30 satellites out of orbit like a cardboard duck - actually manages to get past the USAF one day.

On a personal level, we can take solace in the USAF's "unblinking" self-assurance that these attacks can be stopped preemptively.

But as investors, it's important to understand that Gen. Raymond's confidence is no match for the effect of geopolitical unrest on the market. Pundits will say that global tensions are simply glancing off the markets, but make no mistake: The markets are reacting.

These reactions yield huge profit opportunities for investors.

And if you know where to look, you can profit, too.

How to Profit from the Public Fear of a War with Asia

"Geopolitical uncertainty is a built-in guarantee," says Money Morning Global Energy Strategist Dr. Kent Moors. "The real money is made by being able to play that uncertainty."

Take a look at the defense industry.

Raytheon Co. (NYSE: RTN) holds 400 cybersecurity patents and is working together with DARPA, the Pentagon's research agency, to protect against China's attempts to attack U.S. computer systems. It's up 28.9% year to date (YTD).

Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc. (NYSE: AJRD) is a lesser-known defense contractor responsible for the engine systems of the THAAD - the anti-missile system designed to protect South Korea - and the United States - from North Korean missiles. It's up 77.3% YTD.

And Northrop Grumman Corp. (NYSE: NOC) controls the patents and defense contracts for the "Atomic Navigator" chip, which allows for continuous direction and navigation without GPS satellites. It's up 25.2% YTD.

We can't predict whether or not China or Russia will successfully strike a GPS satellite, or if the "Atomic Navigator" will ever become mainstream. But as long as the threat of a satellite attack remains heavy in the air, NOC will remain a stellar play in this space.

After all, Kent says, when it comes to playing global tensions, it's not about what will happen. It's about what people are worried will happen.

And if you remember that, you won't have to worry about anything at all.

Up Next: The Defense Industry Is a Gold Mine

The South China Sea is about to get violent, and the Chinese have an alarming new superweapon they think gives them the upper hand. Or at least, that's what their war hawks think.

But they couldn't be more wrong.

Thanks to a small $6 U.S. defense contractor with a top-secret technology, the Pentagon has an ingenious new checkmate move designed to stop a Chinese sneak attack dead in its tracks. Click here to learn more...

About Money Morning: Money Morning gives you access to a team of ten market experts with more than 250 years of combined investing experience – for free. Our experts – who have appeared on FOXBusiness, CNBC, NPR, and BloombergTV – deliver daily investing tips and stock picks, provide analysis with actions to take, and answer your biggest market questions. Our goal is to help our millions of e-newsletter subscribers and Moneymorning.com visitors become smarter, more confident investors.To get full access to all Money Morning content, click here.

The Five Top Stock Market Stories for Wednesday

While optimism is high for corporate earnings reports this morning, investors of Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. (NYSE: CMG) were shocked by the company's dismal sales and earnings for the third quarter. Shares fell more than 10% in pre-market hours after a large chunk of Wall Street analysts threw in the towel on the firm's recovery. Nine different brokerages slashed the company's stock price target.

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On the global front, investors will be parsing through data tied to the economy of the United Kingdom. This morning, the nation announced that its GDP for the third quarter expanded by 0.4%. That figure was higher than numbers anticipated by economists. In addition, the country's currency has grown stronger on the international front. The slight expansion of the nation's economy is a good sign ahead of what will likely be a messy divorce with the European Union.

Meanwhile, don't count out tax reform efforts from sneaking into today's headlines. Last week, the U.S. Senate passed a budget proposal that will pave the way for Congress to start pushing tax reform. Yesterday, CNBC reported that House Republicans will move to introduce and debate a new tax law in the first week of November.

Crude oil prices were off in pre-market hours as investors continue to monitor U.S. production and inventory data. Crude is hovering near monthly highs after Saudi Arabia pledged to continue trying to reduce global oil inventories. Meanwhile, traders continue to eye political developments in Iraq, where Kurdish independence advocates have pledged to freeze a vote aimed at creating their own country in the northern province of Kurdistan. The WTI crude oil price today fell 0.3%. Brent crude was flat.

Three Stocks to Watch Today: V, BA, WBA

Shares of Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) added 1.1% before the bell. The global payment giant topped Wall Street earnings and revenue forecasts. Its earnings per share (EPS) figure of $0.90 beat analysts' expectations by five cents. The firm attracted significantly more customers to its network after purchasing Visa Europe.

Shares of Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) fell 0.2% in pre-market hours. The company topped Wall Street profit and revenue expectations. The airline manufacturer reported EPS of $2.72, a figure that bested forecasts by six cents. The firm also hiked its full-year outlook. Boeing expects a lower tax corporate rate to improve its bottom line.

Shares of Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (NYSE: WBA) added 4.7% in pre-market trading. The benefits manager reported adjusted EPS of $1.31. This figure beat expectations by $0.10. While the firm did beat revenue expectations, it did take a $300 million hit over its abandoned deal to purchase Rite Aid Corp. (NYSE: RAD).

Urgent: More than 50% of Americans ages 35 to 54 have less than $10,000 saved for retirement. If that's you - or if you're still not on track to retire by 60 - you can't afford to miss this brand-new report. Get it here now.

About Money Morning: Money Morning gives you access to a team of ten market experts with more than 250 years of combined investing experience – for free. Our experts – who have appeared on FOXBusiness, CNBC, NPR, and BloombergTV – deliver daily investing tips and stock picks, provide analysis with actions to take, and answer your biggest market questions. Our goal is to help our millions of e-newsletter subscribers and Moneymorning.com visitors become smarter, more confident investors.To get full access to all Money Morning content, click here.

Gold and silver prices are lower and hit a three-week low overnight. The bears have downside technical momentum in these two precious metals markets.

In overnight news, the U.K. GDP was reported up 0.4% in the third quarter and up 1.5%, year-on-year, which was a bit better than market expectations.

The German Ifo business climate index rose to 116.7 in October, which was better than forecasts.

The U.S. dollar is slightly higher in early U.S. trading Wednesday. The other key "outside market finds Nymex crude oil futures prices slightly lower and trading above $52.00 a barrel.

The key markets event of the week occurs on Thursday, when the European Central Bank holds its regular monetary policy meeting. Many expect the ECB to announce more details on the winding down of its bond-buying program.

U.S. economic data due for release Wednesday includes weekly MBA mortgage applications survey, durable goods orders, the U.S. monthly house price index, new residential sales, and the weekly DOE liquid energy stocks report.

About Money Morning: Money Morning gives you access to a team of ten market experts with more than 250 years of combined investing experience – for free. Our experts – who have appeared on FOXBusiness, CNBC, NPR, and BloombergTV – deliver daily investing tips and stock picks, provide analysis with actions to take, and answer your biggest market questions. Our goal is to help our millions of e-newsletter subscribers and Moneymorning.com visitors become smarter, more confident investors.To get full access to all Money Morning content, click here.

Wed, 25 Oct 2017 12:01:47 +0000https://moneymorning.com/2017/10/25/global-equity-markets-see-some-pressure-from-downbeat-corporate-earnings/This Extreme Situation Can Help You Bank Massive Profitshttps://moneymorning.com/2017/10/25/this-extreme-situation-can-help-you-bank-massive-profits/
Editor's Note: D.R.'s 10-Minute Millionaire readers mainly play three kinds of special events he finds - events that happen all the time, almost everywhere in the markets. You can get his free research yourself, delivered right to your inbox three times a week. Just click here. Now, here's D.R. with one of the most powerful extremes there is...

We've seen time... and time... and time again just how large a part human emotion plays in big market moves.

Whether it's classic Greenspan-ian "irrational exuberance" at market tops, bidding up everything from tulip bulbs to dot-com stocks, or - less so these days - despair that catches like wildfire, sending otherwise perfectly sound stocks plummeting with no business case for them to do so.

This emotion drives investors to make bad, if not disastrous, decisions, gleefully overpaying at tops and selling at a long-term loss at bottoms.

Nevertheless, if you can hold your nerve, keep a proper perspective, and not go along with the crowd, you'll find that there's massive upside in these extreme situations - especially the one I'm going to show you.

Now, these aren't just rare opportunities. You can find these extremes everywhere in the market, at just about any time.

They show up in broad indexes... specific market sectors... individual stocks and bonds...

And each one is a huge opportunity...

How to Play an "Extreme Continuation" Event

Now, to many investors, filtering through the hundreds of extremes that appear in the market every day may seem like an insurmountable challenge.

Radical "Wealth Experiment": Dozens of participants act on opportunities to make piles of money in days, weeks, sometimes hours. Click here for the stories...

There's that emotion again...

But I'm going to let you in on a little secret: The one you've really got to watch out for with "dry powder" is easy to spot.

It has a unique "how often" and "how much" profile.

One of my very favorite trades is playing a strong stock that is in a strong sector and buying it on sale because its price has dropped to a temporary oversold extreme.

It's called an "extreme continuation."

It occurs with moderate frequency, every so often, with moderate-to-large profit potential. It happens across an intermediate time frame - a few weeks.

The "pop" part of this extreme is a continuation of the previous upside momentum. Because of the previous thrust that the stock has experienced, the upside move after a brief but significant pullback can be dramatic - and it can happen in a hurry.

Typically, this type of extreme occurs in two flavors - "strong stock continuation" and "weak stock continuation," which mirror each other.

The difference being, in the strong stock scenario, a security has been trending up - but has then pulled back to a mid-term extreme on minor news (or no news at all). This positions the stock to rocket higher.

In contrast, the weak stock scenario is when a stock that is in a downtrend is pushed up to a mid-term extreme on minor news (or no news at all). This positions the stock to drop like a stone.

Here's an example: a continuation we played for more than 200% gains in my Stealth Profits Trader research service...

Here's How Profitable a Continuation Can Really Be

By the end of November 2016, Wynn Resorts Ltd. (Nadsaq: WYNN), a casino company run by its iconic namesake Steve Wynn, had enjoyed a strong rebound year and was up almost 50% on the year.

Then a 17% pullback put this volatile stock in a near-term oversold situation - the rubber band was stretched and ready to snap back to upside. The next-to-last trading day of the year, I told my subscribers it was time to act.

The chart tells the rest of story...

This is just simply the power of harnessing human emotions.

Traders pushed a strong stock down too far and, like a beach ball held under the water, it popped back up to bring us significant profits.

Update: D.R.'s triple-digit winners alone are averaging 130% every five days. And now the pace is picking up - 60 money-doublers could happen in the next 12 months. Click here to learn more...

About Money Morning: Money Morning gives you access to a team of ten market experts with more than 250 years of combined investing experience – for free. Our experts – who have appeared on FOXBusiness, CNBC, NPR, and BloombergTV – deliver daily investing tips and stock picks, provide analysis with actions to take, and answer your biggest market questions. Our goal is to help our millions of e-newsletter subscribers and Moneymorning.com visitors become smarter, more confident investors.To get full access to all Money Morning content, click here.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin prices slumped nearly 4%, and it was the fourth-worst-performing cryptocurrency out of the top 100 by market capitalization. The altcoin rally was so significant that the value of just seven coins and tokens in the top 100 fell on the day.

Today's rally in altcoins could be the beginning of a migration of capital from Bitcoin to alternatives ahead of new forks.

Below is a recap of the top cryptocurrency prices at 3:30 p.m. EDT

Bitcoin: $5,675.11, -3.87%

Ethereum: $305.63, +7.31%

Ripple: $0.212, +10.42%

Bitcoin Cash: $330.55, +4.64%

Litecoin: $57.64, +4.49%

Now that we know all of today's price movements, here's what has been moving these cryptocurrencies...

Cryptocurrency Markets Today

On Tuesday, the total market capitalization of the global cryptocurrency sector hit $169.4 billion. Bitcoin's market capitalization comprised 55.7% of the total crypto market capitalization.

Bitcoin Retreats to Five-Day Low

The Bitcoin market capitalization fell to $94.4 billion as traders took some profits off the table. The 3.87% decline comes a day after Saudi Prince Al-Waleed warned that Bitcoin prices are "going to implode."

The prince compared Bitcoin's future to the calamitous ending of U.S. energy giant Enron.

Ethereum Prices Bounce Past One-Month Low

The Ethereum price bounced off the one-month low it hit Monday afternoon. The price ticked back above $300 as traders continue to monitor the results of Ethererum's recent Byzantium hard fork.

In addition, the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance released a statement in the wake of the successful first step of the Metropolis upgrade.

"In the mid-term, the success of the Byzantium hard fork and rapid adoption of the Ethereum network will allow Ether to rebound and recover in value," the EEA wrote.

Ripple Reverses Course, Tops $0.21

The Ripple price jumped 10% on the day as traders came in and purchased the coin after a broader market sell-off.

The price has found support at around the $0.21 level. Prices fell sharply last week after the company behind Ripple failed to provide any breathtaking news at its Swell Conference.

The price of Ripple had rallied to more than $0.30 in anticipation of a major announcement at the conference.

North Korean Cryptocurrency Mining Operations

North Korea has a long history of mining for resources and establishing tunnels around the country.

But cryptocurrencies have brought a new definition of the term "mining" to the reclusive nation...

Today, Quartz reported that North Korea may be using malware to secretly mine cryptocurrencies on your computer.

You read that right.

Malware cryptocurrency mining has reportedly become a major trend in the global hacking community. The report indicates that North Korean hackers are finding ways to use the computer power of strangers to mine Ethereum, Monero, and other cryptocurrencies.

About Money Morning: Money Morning gives you access to a team of ten market experts with more than 250 years of combined investing experience – for free. Our experts – who have appeared on FOXBusiness, CNBC, NPR, and BloombergTV – deliver daily investing tips and stock picks, provide analysis with actions to take, and answer your biggest market questions. Our goal is to help our millions of e-newsletter subscribers and Moneymorning.com visitors become smarter, more confident investors.To get full access to all Money Morning content, click here.

Tue, 24 Oct 2017 20:38:14 +0000https://moneymorning.com/2017/10/24/litecoin-prices-climb-4-today-as-crypto-investors-worry-about-bitcoin-hard-forks/Jim Rogers: Prepare for a Cashless Societyhttps://moneymorning.com/2017/10/24/jim-rogers-prepare-for-a-cashless-society/
Legendary investor Jim Rogers just predicted a sea change in the way we use money.

"My children will never walk into a bank when they become adults," he said to China Daily in Hong Kong on Oct. 24. "By then, all of the banks along the streets will be replaced by computers and certainly mobile phones."

Moreover, Rogers foresees that physical cash will become obsolete around the same time.

"The traditional banking branch will disappear. Physical cash will disappear," he said.

Assuming Rogers meant 18 as the "adult" age, he's putting the death of physical banks - and even cash itself - at four to nine years from now.

That's why Rogers has recently invested in the first fintech bank developed by ITF Corp. According to China Daily, Rogers invested in ITF because he thinks fintech will be the future of banking, and he is confident in the industry's future.

We agree - there's no doubt smart financial technology, like online banking, will see a huge uptick in usage over the next decade.

But beware, these new technologies aren't always as effective as they seem...

A Hack Is Inevitable; Here's What You Should Do

"When everything is electronic, you can bring an economy to its knees," said Money Morning Capital Wave Strategist Shah Gilani on July 5.

These words rang true two months later, when Equifax announced a security breach that left almost half of the U.S. population's credit card information, Social Security numbers, birthdays, addresses, and driver's license numbers exposed to cyber hackers and identity thieves.

And that was just one instance of what is possible when consumers trust institutions to handle all of their sensitive information.

"Are we aware of these kinds of situations? Absolutely," said Shah. "But do we know about all of them? Absolutely not."

Make no mistake: No person or institution is safe from cyber hackers. So, when the United States transforms into a cashless society, you better know how to protect yourself - and your money.

The best thing you can do is keep physical records of all of your assets, said Shah. This means checks, deposit slips, receipts, and even your stock market holdings.

"I can't emphasize this enough - keep physical records!" said Shah. "It's very important that you maintain a trail."

Beyond that, it's what investors do after an attack that is most important.

"The only way to be 100% safe is to keep your money out of the system - but that's the worst possible plan," said Shah.

And if Rogers' prediction comes to fruition, it may also be an impossible plan.

In situations similar to the Equifax scandal, Shah recommends traders employ what he calls an "Event-Driven Pair Trade Strategy."

"Whenever an attack happens, you should short whichever companies the attack made a fool out of," said Shah. In other words, if a cybersecurity company's program failed to stop an attack, investors would be wise to short that firm.

Then, "at the same time," said Shah, "buy the cybersecurity companies that aren't showing their weaknesses."

"Buy the companies with large contracts and great sales. More and more of these stocks will do well because more people will employ their services and software when others fail."

Up Next: You Could Crush the Market with These Trade Recommendations

Since April 28, Shah's Zenith Trading Circle recommendations have outperformed every investment on the market, with an average gains of 44% per day (including partial plays).

In fact, one of his last trade recommendations closed out for a 995% win. And he's got seven more trade recommendations lined up right now.

So if you're not making gains like this... you could be cheating yourself out of tens of thousands of dollars.

About Money Morning: Money Morning gives you access to a team of ten market experts with more than 250 years of combined investing experience – for free. Our experts – who have appeared on FOXBusiness, CNBC, NPR, and BloombergTV – deliver daily investing tips and stock picks, provide analysis with actions to take, and answer your biggest market questions. Our goal is to help our millions of e-newsletter subscribers and Moneymorning.com visitors become smarter, more confident investors.To get full access to all Money Morning content, click here.

Tue, 24 Oct 2017 19:41:54 +0000https://moneymorning.com/2017/10/24/jim-rogers-prepare-for-a-cashless-society/Are Silver Prices Going Higher in November 2017?https://moneymorning.com/2017/10/24/are-silver-prices-going-higher-in-november-2017/
Silver prices have traded in a wide range in October, falling as low as $16.62 on Oct. 4 before reaching a monthly high of $17.41 on Oct. 13. The choppy price action has continued over the last week, with the metal down 2.1% over the last five trading sessions.

This volatility is frustrating the silver bulls, and I don't think it's over quite yet...

It's true that the gold/silver ratio is down to 75.5 today from its month-ago high near 77, meaning it currently takes 75.5 ounces of silver to buy one ounce of gold. But it's important to remember that's still a relative measure.

Silver stocks have also backed off from their recent high. The Global X Silver Miners ETF (NYSE Arca: SIL) - which tracks the performance of silver mining companies - is down 3.1% from its one-month high on Oct. 12. I'll be watching to see if silver stocks can put in another low, ideally higher than that one set a month ago.

But the biggest factor continues to be the U.S. dollar, which has weighed on the silver price this past week. The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) - which pegs the greenback against the yen and euro, among other currencies - is up from 93.49 to 93.86 since last Tuesday.

The DXY's rally will likely continue in anticipation of a new U.S. Federal Reserve chair and December rate hike. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, there's a 96.7% chance the Fed will raise rates at the conclusion of the December FOMC meeting.

Urgent:Executive Editor Bill Patalon just saw something on his precious metals charts he's only seen twice in 20 years. He calls it the "Halley's Comet of investing" - and it could lead to windfall profits. Read more...

With all of these bearish factors in play, I expect the price of silver may see a bit more weakness in the first couple of weeks of November.

But I prefer to focus on the long-term picture, and my silver price forecast shows the metal rebounding before the start of 2018.

Before I get into my year-end price targets, let's take a closer look at the silver price's performance over the past week...

Silver Prices Decline 2.4% Over the Last Week (Oct. 17-24)

Silver opened lower on Tuesday, Oct. 17, starting the session at $17.07. It trended lower throughout the session as the DXY pushed higher to the 93.70 level. By the end of the day, silver prices were trading at $17.04, which was 1.9% lower than Monday's closing price of $17.37.

Here's how the DXY has trended since last Tuesday, Oct. 17...

On Wednesday, Oct. 18, early morning strength in the dollar dragged the price of silver down to $16.90 at the open. But even as the DXY dropped from 93.49 to 93.36 by the end of the day, the silver price still managed to fall 0.2% to close at $17.

But the metal saw a brief rebound on Thursday as the DXY declined toward the 93.25 level. This boosted silver to $17.20 by midday, and it eventually settled at $17.25 for a 1.5% gain on the day.

On Friday, Oct. 20, the dollar bounced back, with the DXY trading near 93.40 by the open. It kept pushing higher during the session, which lowered silver to $17.08 by the close. That marked a 1% loss on the day.

The silver price started this week with an uneventful session on Monday. As the DXY climbed to 93.84, silver was mostly resilient, neither falling nor rising in response. By the end of the day, prices settled at $17.08 for no change from the previous session.

Silver prices today (Tuesday, Oct. 24) are back below the $17 level as the DXY steadily rises toward the 94 level. The metal is down 0.8% and trading at $16.95, while the DXY is up from 93.84 yesterday to 93.89 today.

As I already mentioned, the dollar will be the biggest silver price factor going forward in November and December. While the dollar could keep pushing higher in the short term, I think it will eventually run out of steam by late November. Once that happens, silver will be poised for a rebound before the end of the year.

Here's my silver price prediction for the last two months of 2017...

This Is How High the Silver Price Could Reach Before 2018

The dollar has clearly been on a roll for over a month and a half now. Since hitting a two-and-a-half-year low of 91.35 on Sept. 8, the DXY has rebounded to 93.89 today.

A few weeks ago, I told you to watch for the DXY to surpass the 93.80 level - one of the last highs that took place on Oct. 6. We're watching this happen today, and the DXY has also recently surpassed one of its most important technical indicators...

The DXY has hovered above the 50-day moving average (black line) since late September, meaning the dollar is in rally mode. With that, we should expect more strength in the dollar over the next few weeks.

Further momentum in the dollar is also supported by trading activity. According to sentimenTrader, U.S. dollar hedgers have dramatically reduced their short bets on the greenback. The last time they had a similar position was in early 2014, just before the dollar began a big rally.

Professional traders reducing their short positions on the dollar indicates they're becoming more bullish on it. This shift in sentiment means the dollar is poised to maintain its current rally.

Ongoing strength in the dollar could suppress silver prices, but I think they may soon rise together. I would watch for the DXY to peak somewhere near the 96 or 97 level before finally correcting itself.

With that in mind, I see silver prices making a run for the $18.00 to $18.50 range before the end of November. They could push even higher when silver investors and traders realize any new Fed chair will be dovish and any further rate hikes probably won't happen after December.

Up Next: Rare Gold Anomaly

Money Morning Executive Editor Bill Patalon just caught something on his gold charts that he's only seen twice in the past 20 years. A $13 billion gold anomaly he calls the "Halley's Comet of investing."

It's very rare, and fleeting, and Bill sees things lining up perfectly to bring some very sizeable precious metal profits to well-positioned investors.

About Money Morning: Money Morning gives you access to a team of ten market experts with more than 250 years of combined investing experience – for free. Our experts – who have appeared on FOXBusiness, CNBC, NPR, and BloombergTV – deliver daily investing tips and stock picks, provide analysis with actions to take, and answer your biggest market questions. Our goal is to help our millions of e-newsletter subscribers and Moneymorning.com visitors become smarter, more confident investors.To get full access to all Money Morning content, click here.

Tue, 24 Oct 2017 17:17:43 +0000https://moneymorning.com/2017/10/24/are-silver-prices-going-higher-in-november-2017/Avoid the $3 Billion Stitch Fix IPO and Profit from Online Retail with This Insteadhttps://moneymorning.com/2017/10/24/avoid-the-3-billion-stitch-fix-ipo-and-profit-from-online-retail-with-this-instead/
Buying into the hype of the $3 billion Stitch Fix IPO is a mistake, which is why we had to make sure Money Morning readers know about a better profit opportunity in the online retail sector.

The clothing subscription service is nearing $1 billion in revenue. That's creating hype for the IPO, but this is not where you want to invest your hard-earned money.

Stitch Fix has a $469 billion competitor it may never defeat, which puts you at risk of losing all of your investment.

However, we still think the right online retail investment can be profitable for long-term investors.

That's why, today, we're going to provide our readers with details on an investment opportunity that has already netted some shareholders gains of 35% so far in 2017...

Avoid the Stich Fix IPO and Still Profit

Stitch Fix is a retail startup making waves in the online fashion world. That's fueling hype for its upcoming IPO, but there are better ways for investors to profit from the online retail sector.

Stitch Fix was founded in 2011 by current CEO Katrina Lake as a clothing subscription service for women.

Customers create a profile and answer questions about their style, size, and budget. Customers are then assigned a personal stylist who matches clothing with their taste.

For a $20 styling fee, the customer will receive five items of clothing. The recipient of the clothing pays for what they keep, and the $20 styling fee is applied to the clothes as a credit. Stitch Fix also sends its customers a prepaid UPS envelope for returns.

Lake has come a long way from first shipping orders out of her apartment in 2011, as Stitch Fix recorded $730 million in revenue for its fiscal year ending July 2016.

But despite the startup's success thus far, it has a major competitor it won't be able to contend with...

Amazon.com Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN) launched a feature to its Prime members, called "Outfit Compare," on March 17.

Prime members can upload two pictures of themselves in two different outfits through the Amazon shopping app. An Amazon stylist will send a customer a response "a minute later," telling them which outfit looks best, according to TechCrunch report.

Amazon's move into the fashion industry is still in its infancy, but it's the first step toward bigger plans in retail.

TechCrunch speculates Amazon could use the data it collects from its shopping app to make better clothing recommendations for future customers.

And although Amazon just launched the app, it's already a preferred fashion outlet for millennials...

Amazon accounted for 16.6% of U.S. millennial online fashion spending in 2016, according to Statista. In comparison, Stitch Fix only accounted for 3.2% of U.S. millennial online fashion spending.

Stitch Fix will never outsell Amazon, and the only reason to buy Stitch Fix stock would be for speculative investors who hope Amazon will acquire Lake's company and increase the Stitch Fix stock price.

With Amazon's $22 billion in cash as of May, it doesn't need to acquire Stitch Fix. It can simply develop its own brand, just like it's doing with Outfit Compare.

But there are profit opportunities in the e-commerce space...

E-commerce spending is already in the trillions, and retail e-commerce sales worldwide are expected to climb from $1.86 trillion in 2016 to $4.48 trillion by 2021, according to Statista.

Investing in Drones Will Be Like Investing in Smartphones in 2009:If you've thought of drones in military terms or just as toys, this is a wake-up call. Find out more.

That's a 140% increase in just five years.

And before these sales jump triple digits, this is the investment opportunity you need to know about right now...

Buy This Double-Digit Winner Instead of Stitch Fix

We recommend avoiding the Stitch Fix IPO, but we still see a profit opportunity in online retail that's much safer than owning Stitch Fix stock: Amplify Online Retail ETF (Nasdaq: IBUY).

IBUY holds a diversified group of publicly traded companies that generate 70% or more of their revenue from online or virtual sales.

Some of its most well-known holdings include Amazon.com Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN), eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY), and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (NYSE: BABA). Instead of owning shares of a company that just sells clothes, you can gain exposure to three e-commerce giants, each with market caps over $30 billion. You can also own IBUY for a fraction of what a regular share of AMZN or BABA would cost you.

Stock Symbol

Price per Share as of Oct. 24

Year-to-Date Return

IBUY

$37.17

35.79%

AMZN

$969.00

30.32%

BABA

$175.12

99.64%

EBAY

$36.88

24.18%

So far in 2017, the IBUY stock price has climbed 35.79%. In comparison, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has climbed just 18.62% during the same time.

And because the stock prices for AMZN, BABA, and EBAY are expected to go higher in the next 12 months, there could be even more gains on the way for IBUY shareholders.

According to FactSet, Wells Fargo projects the AMZN stock price will climb 44.47%, to $1,400, in the next 12 months. Wells Fargo also projects the BABA stock price will climb 29.31%, to $225 per share, in the next 12 months.

For the EBAY stock price, firm DA Davidson projects it will climb 23.25% in the next 12 months, to $45 per share.

Of course, you can still profit from buying these companies directly, but IBUY provides diversification. If you owned just Amazon stock in your portfolio, your portfolio's value could wildly fluctuate if Amazon has a bad quarter.

Also, one share of Amazon costs $977.56. That limits how much stock retail investors can own.

IBUY solves both of those problems. If Amazon has a bad quarter, the IBUY stock price can still climb if Alibaba and eBay outperform quarterly expectations.

And at roughly $40 a share, it lets you profit from the best online retailers at a fraction of the cost of owning just one share of AMZN.

The Bottom Line: CEO Katrina Lake has huge competition from Amazon.com, and IPO prices can have volatile price swings in the first few months of trading. Instead of owning a risky IPO, a safer way to potentially profit from the online retail industry is by owning shares of IBUY.

Up Next: A Brand-New Way to Profit Every Week

When it comes to making money, Tom Gentile likes to keep things as fast as possible.

So he's invented a brand-new way you could pocket $1,000, $1,500, even $2,000, in just four days or less.

And he's ready to reveal how you can play these fast cash paydays Monday to Friday, every single week. Click here now...

About Money Morning: Money Morning gives you access to a team of ten market experts with more than 250 years of combined investing experience – for free. Our experts – who have appeared on FOXBusiness, CNBC, NPR, and BloombergTV – deliver daily investing tips and stock picks, provide analysis with actions to take, and answer your biggest market questions. Our goal is to help our millions of e-newsletter subscribers and Moneymorning.com visitors become smarter, more confident investors.To get full access to all Money Morning content, click here.

Tue, 24 Oct 2017 17:00:52 +0000https://moneymorning.com/2017/10/24/avoid-the-3-billion-stitch-fix-ipo-and-profit-from-online-retail-with-this-instead/U.S. Veterans Want to Change the Way You Think About Marijuanahttps://moneymorning.com/2017/10/24/u-s-veterans-want-to-change-the-way-you-think-about-marijuana/
The marijuana industry has acquired a powerful new ally: U.S. military veterans.

THC Design in Los Angeles, Calif., for example, has created a marijuana cultivation internship specifically for veterans, paying veterans up to $25 an hour - more than twice the state's minimum wage - by the program's end.

This is yet another example of the industry-wide effort to improve marijuana's image in America.

But many veterans don't need an internship to be convinced of the benefits of medical marijuana. It would, after all, eliminate the need for dangerous and addictive opiates issued by VA hospitals.

Federal law, however, still deems cannabis an illegal Schedule I drug. This means the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - the program responsible for the majority of veterans' healthcare - is restricted from prescribing medical marijuana to veterans who could otherwise benefit from it.

Here's what they're doing - and how you can profit from the trend that's sweeping the nation...

How Marijuana Is Changing Veterans' Lives

When soldiers returning from duty visit Veterans Affairs (VA) clinics to seek help for physical pain, anxiety, depression, and insomnia, they are almost immediately prescribed opiates and other addictive medications.

In fact, VA prescriptions of four potent opiates - hydrocodone, oxycodone, methadone, and morphine - more than tripled between 2001 and 2013, according to a report by the Center for Investigative Reporting.

And the consequences are undeniable...

In 2016, the VA treated 66,000 ex-servicemen and women for opioid addiction in one year alone.

"It is a travesty," said U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrbacker (R-CA) in a recent speech. "They are given opiates instead of maybe something they can derive from marijuana.... And our veterans end up killing themselves because now they are addicted to an opiate."

Medical marijuana could indeed be a safer alternative for suffering veterans. But since it's illegal under federal law, VA physicians are banned from recommending it. In some cases, veterans who want cannabis could pay out of their own pocket - but advocates say in many states they're unlikely to even hear about it as an alternative, according to an Oct. 18 report from Buzzfeed News.

But now, veterans are trying to increase awareness of - and access to - medical marijuana...

Special Report: Cannabis Is the Gold Rush of the 21st Century - 30 Stocks to Invest in Now. Details Here...

Last spring, the 2-million-member American Legion launched a campaign to reduce marijuana restrictions so that veterans could gain access to the drug for treatment.

"We were hearing these compelling stories from veterans about how cannabis has made their lives better," said Joseph Plenzler, a spokesman for the American Legion, to LA Times. "That they were able to use it to get off a whole cocktail of drugs prescribed by VA doctors, that it is helping with night terrors, or giving them relief from chronic pain."

The legion is calling for marijuana to be reclassified to be included in the same category as legal prescription painkillers. Right now, cannabis sits in the same category as heroin.

The legion isn't the only one calling for change. California lawmakers are also trying to change the way cannabis is perceived by both consumers and the long arm of the law.

Earlier this month, state lawmakers voted on a joint resolution to urge the federal government to reclassify marijuana. The vote was approved 60 to 10.

Here's what reclassification means for marijuana investors...

Weed Investors: Get Ready to Profit

If marijuana is reclassified into a higher-number tier or removed from the list of controlled substances entirely, the implications for the nationwide legal marijuana industry will be massive.

Editor's Note:Don't miss out on the most important marijuana reform updates. Get real-time legalization alerts sent right to your inbox, here.

You see, if pot is rescheduled, it would open the industry to international trade and move the United States toward a nationwide, regulated market.

In other words, it could bring marijuana into the mainstream economy.

Which is all well and good, so long as you've already got stake in the industry. Because once marijuana hits the mainstream, it will be too late.

The company has a new drug, Epidiolex, coming to market soon. The drug is formulated for the 3 million epilepsy sufferers in the United States (and the 62 million sufferers worldwide). Relief from debilitating seizures would be nothing short of a miracle - and that's exactly what GW Pharma intends to provide.

Following approval, GW Pharma will have exclusive sales rights to the drug for seven years in the United States and 10 years in Europe. This means GW Pharma (and its investors) will enjoy a "first-mover advantage" in the medical marijuana space.

GW has already seen peak returns of over 1,000% in the past three years, and Money Morning Director of Technology & Venture Capital Research - and pot stock expert - Michael Robinson sees it growing another 1,000%, thanks to the growing marijuana industry.

"GW has an unbeatable head start in the race to build drug franchises around the healing powers of cannabis," Michael told his readers on Oct. 12.

And you can bet the reclassification of marijuana will be a major catalyst in that growth.

Marijuana investing is already being called the "Green Rush," and weed investors are pulling in profits hand over fist. As more groups come together to fight for marijuana legalization, the rush is only going to get stronger - and more profitable.

Our Readers Rave About Michael A. Robinson

"Just a note to let you know, I read hundreds of emails a day, many from news sources like Huffington Post, and dozens of investment newsletters, some trying to sell me a subscription and some I subscribe to. None of them provide me the forward thinking and outstanding reporting on the future of science, industry, and humanity as does your reporting. I love it and hope you never stop." ~ Jay C.

"We need more people like you on the planet - keep up the incredible research you are doing - make it happen. My glass is always half full." ~ Calvin M.

"We're talking about a market likely to top $35 billion in three years," said Michael. "The next wave for this industry will be an exciting, profitable ride."

Indeed, we've already seen marijuana stocks climb 8,875%, 13,900%, and even higher in a matter of months or even weeks. You could profit from these kinds of gains.

That is, if you know how to separate the buds from the duds.

This time last year, Michael published his first "weed investors' bible." At the time, it was packed with 30 of his absolute favorite plays in the still-booming legal cannabis sector.

Over the past year, this section of the Nova-X Report portfolio has seen 10 double-digit winners and eight triple-digit winners... 291% gains... 193.3%... 189.5%; one recommendation even saw peak gains of 1,588%.

Since then, weed investing's only gotten bigger, better, and more profitable - and we're just at the beginning.

Michael wants to make sure Money Morning Members know how to get the latest recommendations and research in his updated Roadmap to Marijuana Millions. He's expecting 2018's profits to top this year's biggest gains, so it'll be released shortly. Click here to learn how to get your copy now.

About Money Morning: Money Morning gives you access to a team of ten market experts with more than 250 years of combined investing experience – for free. Our experts – who have appeared on FOXBusiness, CNBC, NPR, and BloombergTV – deliver daily investing tips and stock picks, provide analysis with actions to take, and answer your biggest market questions. Our goal is to help our millions of e-newsletter subscribers and Moneymorning.com visitors become smarter, more confident investors.To get full access to all Money Morning content, click here.

Tue, 24 Oct 2017 16:03:57 +0000https://moneymorning.com/2017/10/24/u-s-veterans-want-to-change-the-way-you-think-about-marijuana/Maryland Medical Marijuana Program Kicks Off as the State Enters the $6.7 Billion Cannabis Crazehttps://moneymorning.com/2017/10/24/maryland-medical-marijuana-program-kicks-off-as-the-state-enters-the-6-7-billion-cannabis-craze/
After being legalized in 2014, the Maryland medical marijuana program is racing to stake its claim in the $6.7 billion legal North American industry.

Currently, only one dispensary has been licensed in Maryland, according to a Sept. 2, 2017, report by The Washington Post. But there are over 100 prospective dispensaries that have received preliminary licenses and have until December to have employees pass background checks and undergo final inspections.

And when Maryland does start selling medical marijuana, it will be a boon for the local economy. From sales and excise taxes on marijuana, NerdWallet.com projects the state government will net $40.5 million per year.

Fortunately, the state government won't be the only one that can cash in on marijuana...

Maryland Marijuana Shows Legalization Is More Than Just a Trend

In 2014, Maryland voted to legalize medical marijuana. Progress has been slow, but the demand has been huge for medical cannabis in Maryland.

Over 13,000 potential patients have signed up to purchase medical marijuana in Maryland, and over 428 healthcare providers have registered to certify potential patients, according to The Washington Post.

Medical marijuana in Maryland won't be sold until some point in 2018, but this demand is creating a $20 billion profit opportunity for Money Morning readers.

Special Report: Cannabis Is the Gold Rush of the 21st Century - 30 Stocks to Invest in Now. Details Here...

Legal cannabis sales in North America in 2016 totaled $6.7 billion. And thanks to states like Maryland legalizing medical cannabis, that number is expected to skyrocket to $20 billion by 2020.

That's a 198% increase in sales in just four years.

And after nine months of exhaustive research, we've found the best, most lucrative, and fastest-growing legal pot stocks in America.

They're all in our 89-page "bible of weed investing," The Roadmap to Marijuana Millions.

Here's how you can get in on the action and potentially turn a small stake into $100,000...

How to Cash In on Pot Stock Profits

Money Morning Director of Technology & Venture Capital Research Michael Robinson is our renowned pot stock expert and one of our most prominent and respected investing "gurus" here at Money Map Press. And for good reason.

He's been a board member for a Silicon Valley venture capital firm and a senior advisor to 12 high-tech startups.

He's also a Pulitzer Prize-nominated writer and reporter, lauded by the Columbia Journalism Review for his aggressive style.

His research is world class, too. The Oakland Tribune, Detroit News, The San Francisco Examiner, The Kansas City Times, Wealth Magazine, and American Banker have all published his reporting. He's even appeared on Larry King's syndicated radio show and is a regular guest on CNBC's "The Rundown" and FOX Business Network's "Cavuto: Coast to Coast."

And he's focused on a new, earth-shattering government announcement could completely change the legalization of marijuana - forever. In fact, thanks to this historic legislation, tiny pot stocks trading for under $5 are getting set to double, triple, or quadruple.

In an exclusive interview with Money Morning, Michael shares all the good news - including details on five tiny weed stocks that could potentially turn a small stake into $100,000. Click here to continue.

About Money Morning: Money Morning gives you access to a team of ten market experts with more than 250 years of combined investing experience – for free. Our experts – who have appeared on FOXBusiness, CNBC, NPR, and BloombergTV – deliver daily investing tips and stock picks, provide analysis with actions to take, and answer your biggest market questions. Our goal is to help our millions of e-newsletter subscribers and Moneymorning.com visitors become smarter, more confident investors.To get full access to all Money Morning content, click here.

Tue, 24 Oct 2017 14:49:53 +0000https://moneymorning.com/2017/10/24/maryland-medical-marijuana-program-kicks-off-as-the-state-enters-the-6-7-billion-cannabis-craze/Today's Lyft IPO News Features the Company Reaching a 500 Million Ride Milestonehttps://moneymorning.com/2017/10/24/todays-lyft-ipo-news-features-the-company-reaching-a-500-million-ride-milestone/
In the latest Lyft IPO news, the company reported on Oct. 11, 2017, that it has delivered 500 million rides, a milestone that could mean the IPO will happen soon.

While the 500 million rides don't hold a candle to rival Uber's 5 billion rides, the fact is Lyft's market share has been increasing.

And even though Uber may have delivered more rides, Lyft is closer to going public...

The Lyft IPO News Could Mean the Public Offering Is Nearing

Lyft has completed fewer rides than Uber, but Lyft only operates within the United States. In comparison, Uber operates in over 80 countries around the world.

But in the U.S. market, Lyft is stealing Uber's customers...

Uber started 2017 with 80% of the U.S. market share for ride-hailing services, but that figure now sits at around 70%.

This Could Make Big Oil Obsolete: One gallon of this new fuel could produce enough energy to power a car for 42,325 miles. It's being hailed by many experts as energy's "Holy Grail." Read more...

Lyft isn't just adding more customers - it's doing it faster than ever.

It took the company four years to reach 100 million rides. This year, it took the company just three months to reach 100 million.

Now it appears the company is ready to capitalize on this positive news by going public...

The Lyft IPO Date Could Be Set at the Start of 2018

Lyft is in the process of signing an IPO advisory firm, according to a Sept. 28 Reuters report.

The IPO advisor will help Lyft hire its underwriters, who will determine the IPO offering price. Large institutions and hedge funds will be able to buy Lyft stock at the offering price, and then retail investors can buy Lyft stock on the Lyft IPO date.

Lyft has completed its interviews for an IPO advisory firm and plans to make its selection shortly.

And when Lyft selects its underwriters and goes public, we want Money Morning readers to be prepared.

Should I Buy Lyft Stock?

"I generally tell retail investors to avoid buying an IPO at the open because the insiders have already made all the money available at the debut," Robinson said.

You see, prices can soar for a few days after a company goes public, which nets early investors the biggest gains. However, retail investors are often buying in at an inflated price, and stock prices after a public offering can be extremely volatile.

But he has one exception...

"My exception to this rule is to put in a limit order that is fairly tight from the offering price. Otherwise, the risk is you buy at the top and then go upside down. That's a big risk to carry with a new issue that hasn't hit the lock-up date," Robinson said.

However, we have one strategy that lets you safely profit from the hype these IPOs create without the risk that can come with buying at the IPO price.

Because FPX is an ETF, retail investors can buy and sell it just like a stock.

And because FPX holds a mix of recent IPOs, it's diversified. That makes it less risky than owning just one stock.

Because FPX owns more of PayPal Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: PYPL) (7.28% of its holdings) than SNAP (1.05% of its holdings), for example, it balances out the risk of IPOs. If FPX just owned shares of SNAP, FPX would be down 38.85% so far in 2017. But the PYPL stock price is up 76.84% so far in 2017, and it accounts for a much larger position than Snapchat.

According to FTPPortfolios.com, FPX's holdings include the 100 largest and most recent U.S. public offerings.

It currently holds IPOs that rolled out over the last several years, including Snap Inc. (NYSE: SNAP), Match Group Inc. (Nasdaq: MTCH), and Blue Buffalo Pet Products Inc. (Nasdaq: BUFF). And it also holds newly spun-off companies like AbbVie Inc.(NYSE: ABBV).

This structure lets you profit from IPOs and new public companies without the risk of owning just one stock. And for investors looking to outperform the market with safe investments, FPX is beating the Dow right now.

This year, FPX has climbed 20.92%. In comparison, the Dow is up only 17.76% in the same time.

Up Next:One gallon of this new "crystal fuel" could get you from New York to L.A. and back... seven times! Being hailed by many experts as energy's "Holy Grail," it's 1,693 times more powerful than the gasoline that runs your car. The mainstream investment media isn't even talking about it yet. Read more...

About Money Morning: Money Morning gives you access to a team of ten market experts with more than 250 years of combined investing experience – for free. Our experts – who have appeared on FOXBusiness, CNBC, NPR, and BloombergTV – deliver daily investing tips and stock picks, provide analysis with actions to take, and answer your biggest market questions. Our goal is to help our millions of e-newsletter subscribers and Moneymorning.com visitors become smarter, more confident investors.To get full access to all Money Morning content, click here.